[Jo Yongjun's Travel Journey] When Night Comes, the Sea Blooms with 'Flowers'... Night~ Joohneye

Busan Is More Beautiful at Night Than During the Day: A Journey to Night View Attractions

There is a saying that "Busan's night is more beautiful than its day," as Busan has many night view spots. There are various ways to enjoy the night scenery, including mountains, downtown, the sea, and cafes. Recently, the night view of Busanhang Bridge and the downtown area seen from the popular cafe Singi Industry rooftop.

'The Bay 101' is famous as a landmark for night views representing Busan.

Day and Night at Huinyeoul Village, a Popular Spot Among the MZ Generation

A river cruise where you can enjoy the night of Busan while riding a yacht,

Songdo Marine Cable Car

From Hwangnyeongsan, you can see downtown Busan, the high-rise buildings of Haeundae, and the Gwangandaegyo Bridge.

Popular night view spot, the night view of Busan Harbor Bridge seen from the cafe Singi Industry rooftop

[Asia Economy, Reporter Cho Yong-jun, Travel Specialist] The dull midday scenery has disappeared. As the sun slowly sets, objects begin to change colorfully. The once monotonous sky becomes vibrant as if painted with colorful pigments, and the ever-changing harmony of light is dazzling. The gray city during the day starts to come alive brilliantly at night. As the lights of the skyscrapers that seem to pierce the sky sparkle, Busan's night sea dances. There is a saying that night is more beautiful than day, and Busan is overflowing with night view spots. The skyscrapers of Haeundae, which have become a photo hotspot on SNS, give the illusion of being in Hong Kong. How about the night views of the city seen from Busan's landmarks like Gwangandaegyo Bridge and Hwangnyeongsan Observatory? Among these, we explored summer night spots 'recommended' by the Busan-Ulsan branch of the Korea Tourism Organization. From newly emerging hot places to iconic night view sites representing Busan, including Yeongdo Sambok Road's Huinyeoul Village and Cafe Singi Industry, Songdo Marine Cable Car, and sea cruises. These places are beautiful during the day, but their beauty shines even more from sunset to night. You can't help but admire, 'Busan's night is so magnificent.'

#1 New Night View Spot, Cafe Singi Industry - Viewing Busan from the Rooftop

Singi Industry marks the beginning and end of the Yeongdo 'cafe tour.' It is the reason why Yeongdo, which once had not even a single Starbucks, became a cafe tour hotspot. Singi Industry started as a bell factory in 1987 and is an office supplies manufacturer. In 2017, it opened its company building at the top of Yeongdo as a cafe, becoming a 'hot place.' The cafe shares the same name as the company, 'Singi Industry.'

During the day, you can start with Singi Industry and visit nearby cafes, and when darkness falls, head up to the Singi Industry rooftop. The contrasting lights of distant high-rise buildings and the old downtown, along with the sea scenery created by Busan Harbor Bridge, ships, and the port, are fantastic. It's a perfect spot to sink into the rooftop shaded chairs and gaze endlessly at the sea. It's literally a great place to enjoy 'nighttime relaxation.'

In the cafe's basement, there is 'Singi General Store,' a converted former Singi Industry warehouse, so if you need souvenirs, it's worth a visit.

Below Singi Industry, paired to enhance the Yeongdo cafe tour experience, is 'Karin.' The cafe is harmoniously decorated with details and colors. Since Karin is a brand selling sunglasses and eyeglass frames, related products are displayed on the second floor. The rooftop features white and sky-blue chairs that blend well with the sea view.

#2 A Festival of Colors, Korea's Santorini Huinyeoul Village

Among Busan travel destinations, one beloved by the MZ generation is 'Huinyeoul Village' in Yeongdo. The name Huinyeoul comes from the time before the village was formed, when several streams flowed down the foot of Bongrae Mountain to the sea, and the fast currents looked like falling white snow.

It became famous because singer Kang Daniel attended a nearby middle school, but before that, it was known as the filming location of the movie 'The Attorney.' Along winding paths, the blue sea and quaint buildings blend together, earning it the nickname 'Korea's Santorini.'

The village has a retro vibe with narrow alleys winding like a maze between tightly packed 'hakkobang' houses without clear boundaries between neighbors. 'Hakkobang' is a term combining the Japanese word 'hako (はこ)' meaning box and 'bang' meaning room. As people seeking the 1970s-1980s nostalgia of this area increased, cafes, souvenir shops, and bookstores have sprung up. No matter which alley you take, it ends facing the sea. With white walls, blue stairs, and murals, any spot in the village makes for a great photo.

The night in Huinyeoul Village is as beautiful as the day. At dusk, the village transforms into a different face. Streetlights along the Jeolyeong Coastal Walkway in front of the village light up one by one, softly breaking on the white waves. Walking along the path, you reach the Huinyeoul Coastal Tunnel. The light from the tunnel and the sea outside blend exquisitely, making it a popular spot for couples to take commemorative photos.

#3 When you think of Busan, Haeundae is the number one night view spot

The number one tourist spot in Busan is Haeundae. It boasts a natural landscape where mountains, sea, and rivers harmonize, but also features skyscrapers piercing the sky like a futuristic city. When night falls, the lights emitted by these skyscrapers are spectacular. Therefore, the night view of Haeundae is unmatched. To fully appreciate the night view around Haeundae, you need to climb Jangsan Mountain. From there, you can capture the breathtaking night views of Busan city, including Gwangandaegyo Bridge and the skyscrapers of Haeundae.

Also, standing at the summit of Dalmaji Hill at Haewoljeong Pavilion or midway along Moon Tan Road, you can enjoy the dazzling night views of skyscrapers such as 'Centum City' and 'Marine City.'

'The Bay 101,' located next to Haeundae Beach, is already famous on SNS as a representative night view spot of Busan. It is enough to make you feel like you are in Hong Kong. There is a saying that if you come to Busan, you must take night view photos here. After rain, the reflections of the colorful lights of the high-rise buildings in the puddles are fantastic. Reflections in puddles or seawater can be beautifully captured even with a smartphone camera. It is a popular place where you can enjoy the night view while chatting with friends, lovers, or family over a beer.

#4 A Different Night View from the Sea, River Cruise Tour

How about Busan's night view from the sea? Taking a cruise reveals a different side of Busan. If you want to see the beauty of the night sea up close, there is the 'Haeundae River Cruise.'

Departing from APEC Naru Park, it passes through Suyeong River and the seas of Haeundae and Gwangalli. You can closely view Marine City and Gwangandaegyo Bridge. The cruise's charm lies in enjoying both river and sea. As the cruise leisurely cuts through the Suyeong River's currents, gazing at the dazzling lights along both riverbanks, the boat soon reaches Gwangandaegyo Bridge. As Busan's first urban-type cruise, it operates during the day but the night cruise offers the best scenery. If you book the cruise departing around 7 p.m., you can enjoy both the sunset and night view simultaneously.

As darkness falls, buildings of various heights simultaneously light up as if by agreement. Nurimaru lights up Dongbaek Island brightly, and the lights emitted from the towering skyscrapers of Marine City are dazzling. Turning your gaze toward the sea, the 7,420-meter-long Gwangandaegyo Bridge welcomes visitors with a magnificent posture. You can't take your eyes off the spectacular night view created by the ever-changing multi-layered lights of Gwangandaegyo Bridge. When the dazzling lights and sea breeze heighten your travel mood, take at least one memorable photo with the night view as the background.

#5 Songdo Beach, More Enjoyable at Night than Day

There is no place as enjoyable at night as Busan's Songdo Beach. Along with the splendid night view, there are many things to enjoy late into the night, such as Songdo Cloud Walkway that lets you walk over the sea and Songdo Marine Cable Car crossing the night sea. The Cloud Walkway is a marine pedestrian bridge. The 365-meter-long deck has sections with reinforced glass and lattice steel floors in the middle, allowing views of the swaying sea below. At night, the bridge is illuminated, harmonizing beautifully with the surrounding night view, and there is also the fun of viewing exhibitions and sculptures on Turtle Island.

Above the Songdo Cloud Walkway, the Songdo Marine Cable Car sparkles with colorful lights, decorating the night sky. At a maximum height of 86 meters, the cable car offers a panoramic view of the beach, Yeongdo across the sea, Namhang Bridge, and ships scattered on the water. Throughout the ride, it's hard to take your eyes off the dazzling city night view beyond the dark sea and night sky. Using the transparent-floored Crystal Cruise, the night sea below feels much more vivid, doubling the thrill.

Additionally, Hwangnyeongsan is a well-known night view spot recognized by all. On Hwangnyeongsan, there is a beacon tower from the Joseon Dynasty used to send urgent signals upon spotting Japanese pirates approaching by sea. This beacon tower now serves as an observatory offering the best panoramic views. To the east, you can see Haeundae and its surrounding tall skyscrapers, and to the southeast, the fantastic night view of Gwangandaegyo Bridge unfolds.

Busan = Written and photographed by Cho Yong-jun, Travel Specialist jum21@